Destiny, Fate and Free Will Essay

Really an entity such as destiny or fate that exists? Does each and “everyone” of us have a destiny, “ A set of predetermined events within our lives that we take an active course in shaping” Or a fate, “The preordained course of your life that will occur because of or in spite of your actions,” and as you/one would expect, the obvious existence of our own free will, “The power of acting without the constraint of necessity or fate; the ability to act at one’s own discretion.

” Here, in a conversation between Forrest Gump and his Momma, we get an authentic and ordinary question about destiny and fate that most of us in all likelihood would ask. Not only in the question, “What’s my destiny,” but also in the statement, “Death is just a part of life,” it illustrates that the two are connected with each other. The choices you make are your destiny, and will ultimately lead you through the path to meet your death, (fate). As Forrest stands there looking down, wondering how sick his Momma is. He queries. “Why are you dying momma? ” She looks up at him, and with a great expression of love.

She expresses. “ It’s my time. It’s just my time. Oh now, don’t you be afraid, sweetheart. Death is just a part of life. It’s 2 something we’re all destined to do. I didn’t know it, but I was destined to be your momma. I did the best I could. ” As he responds with an acceptable assertion. “ You did good, Momma. ” “ Well, I happened to believe you make your own destiny. ” “ What’s my destiny, Momma? ” “ Life is like a box of chocolates, Forrest. You never know what your going to get. ” (Winston Groom) Destiny is more complex to come by than fate, because it involves the inner working’s of ones psyche.

We advance on the road to our destiny when we tread the path of individuation. Destiny can involve choices that make no sense; risks that we’d rather not take; challenges that make us want to squirrel away under a rock; and certain moments in time that push us past our limits. Just as in the comment that Momma say’s to Forrest, “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what your going to get,” Is a good paradigm of the choices that we must all make. As we delve into the conversation between Forrest and his Momma. We begin to understand that the choices we make are part of our destiny which leads us to our fate’s end.

Most of us believe in a higher power greater than ourselves; that something else is in control of our lives, and as we explore into the undeniable emergence of our fate. “The inescapable destiny of man. ” We are compelled to go back millennia, to the times of mythological gods, and look at the Moirai. The Moirai were the three mythological goddesses of fate, They directed the symbolic thread of life of every mortal from birth to death. Clotho, “The spinner” spun the thread of life from her distaff onto her spindle. Lachesis, “The allotter” or drawer of lots, measured the thread 3 of life allotted to each person with her measuring rod.

Atropos, “The inevitable” was the cutter of the thread of life. She chose the manner of each person’s death; and when their time was come, she cut their life-thread with, “Her abhorred shears. ” The Moirai were autonomous, even though they had command of one’s fate – appointed to them by the perpetual laws. They were responsible for making sure that fate would take it’s sequence in life without hindrance. They did not abruptly interfere in the matters of man, even man himself, in his freedom was allowed to exercise a certain amount of influence in his fate by the choices he makes.

As a man’s fate end’s with his death, the goddesses of fate essentially become the goddesses of death. “Each player must accept the cards life deals him or her. But once they are in hand, he or she alone must decide how to play the cards in order to win the game. ” (Voltaire) Within this quote made prominent by the prolific writer Voltaire. It conveys to us that this game of life is full of choice’s, and how we make the decision’s of witch path to follow define’s the measurement of our success in the game of life. Just as the Moirai do not interfere with our life, but allow us to make our own choice’s.

Even though the two words are used in similar manners, fate and destiny can be distinguished. Paradoxically when the two words are used to mean the same thing, fate often assumes a negative association as is emphasized by the similar words “fatal,” “fateful,” and “fatalism. ” Destiny traditionally suggests a more positive conclusion, such as people being more in control of their destinies. As we take in the considerations of destiny and fate; now we must consider the aspect of free will, “The power of acting without the constraint of necessity or fate; the ability to act at 4 one’s own discretion.

” What free will tries to account for, is our introverted belief that we are in control of many of our choices, and thus our destiny-that we are free to think and choose for ourselves. We consciously make choices and decisions that are far more independent than that of nature and nurture than any animals. We have the conscious ability to think of the consequences of our choices, whether good or bad. These are the meaningful differences that lead to the idea of free will. “I wear the chain I forged in life…. I made it link by link, and yard by yard; I girded it on of my own free will, and of my own free will I wore it.

” (Charles Dickens) In conclusion, fate is predestined. Everyone’s life is fated to it’s termination; to meet his maker; to finally be judged; and even though we cannot conquer fate, we can accept the fact that our future lies within our own selves and not within the hands of fate. We do not let fate decide our future. We have the power to make choices by being the creator and writer of our own destiny. We have the power of free will. The way you wear the chain that you have forged link by link, and yard by yard is completely up to you. Just remember that you girded it of your own free will, and it is you solely that will have to wear it.

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